Bay Area News

Roadshow: 'Don't tell me to look out for motorcycles'

By Gary Richards grichards@mercurynews.com

Posted:
06/24/2013 12:01:00 AM PDT

Updated:
06/24/2013 05:34:46 AM PDT

Q I was blown away when I saw the Interstate 880 freeway signs through San Jose lit up with a message telling me that I should look twice for motorcycles. I have driven that corridor for over 30 years, logging well over 1.5 million miles, and have yet to see a motorcycle that didn't deserve a ticket for some unsafe maneuver. I think Caltrans or the CHP is targeting the wrong audience.

We drivers have enough on which to concentrate without adding motorcycles. If they could just obey the laws, they would be fine. I'm taking care of my vehicle and if one chooses to get too close with a bonehead maneuver, he (and it is usually a he) will have to take the consequences.

The public would be better served if the signs were used to reinforce basic traffic laws, such as signal a lane change, obey the speed limit, etc. Maybe a Law of the Month?

Barbara Waaland

Scotts Valley

A And ...

Q I recently noticed that the freeway electronic signs are alerting drivers to look twice for motorcycles. HELP! Why don't these systems tell motorcycles to look out for cars? I have been frightened many times by motorcycles racing past and in between lanes of cars. How many accidents occur because of these reckless drivers?

Sarah Morgan

Fremont

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A Barbara and Sarah, take a deep breath and relax. Motorcyclists aren't going to stop riding, and a safety message like this should help everyone be more on the alert.

Q Are there plans to install more colored bike lanes like the green lanes added to Stevens Creek Boulevard a year ago? I don't bicycle, but as a driver they sure make me more aware that a bicyclist may be nearby.

Mary W.

San Jose

A Yes, and soon. On Wednesday, San Jose will unveil a green bike lane on Hedding Street west of Highway 87. The 1 ½-mile lane will run from the future Berryessa BART station to the Guadalupe River Park trail. Later this summer, bike lanes will be painted green on San Fernando Street.

The idea of painted bike lanes has been around for a decade. Sunnyvale installed blue lanes on Moffett Park Drive about 10 years ago, before state rules made green the color of choice because it stands out more.

San Francisco installed green lanes along Fell and Market streets in 2010, while Pleasanton, Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto and San Mateo either have them or are installing more.

Q On Interstate 280 between the 85 and Page Mill Road exits, the trees and bushes in the median and along the shoulders are so overgrown that you cannot see the freeway signs until right on top of them. Does Caltrans have any plans to do some trimming anytime soon?

Mike Deyoe

San Jose

A Yep. Trimming is scheduled for this week.

Q I thought cars or trucks with trailers were not allowed in the carpool lane during commute hours. That should be an easy catch for the CHP, yet every day I see at least one with a trailer on my 50-mile commute on Highway 101 -- but I've never seen one pulled over. Am I "mis-remembering" the law?

Ben Arbogast

Gilroy

A Your memory is mostly correct. Any vehicle pulling a trailer is limited to 55 mph and must stay in the two far right lanes on a freeway with four lanes in one direction. On a freeway with three lanes, they can use the center lane only to pass another vehicle. They are never allowed in the carpool lane, no matter how many people are inside.